Oh Darn! Saving Hole-Filled Socks

Grandmothers around the world would have been embarrassed if they’d seen our stash of socks six months ago. We were definitely the wear-until-there’s-a-hole kind of people. Then when the holes got too big for me to handle, I tossed the socks in the trash with a big loud, “Oh darn!”

Since the beginning of the summer, Martin and I have purchased no new clothes, as many of you know. We’re using what we’ve got – a challenge that’s really done little wonders for our wallets and made us rethink the clothes we already have. At the rate we used to go through socks, this challenge was going to have to

Come to a screeching halt soon, or

We’d become those people who wear shoes without socks all winter long, or

I’d need to figure out how to patch the weak fabric before it became a huge hole.

So I decided to teach myself how to darn socks.

I keep a little pile of socks in the pocket of my sewing machine (a sweet birthday present from Martin), and once a month, I sit down to darn socks. Yes it makes me feel a little grandmotherly, but darning holes in socks is actually really easy. You don’t even know have to know how to sew straight. If you want to join me, I promise I won’t tell. You can patch one of three ways:

Machine Sewing with a darning stitch. This method is the easiest. Look at your sewing machine manual to see if you have a darning stitch so that all you have to do is push the pedal. The straight stitch will work its way forward and backward, strengthening the weak fabric.

Machine Sewing without a darning stitch. Use a straight stitch to sew forward across your worn fabric, then push the back button to sew backward and slightly to the right. Work your way forward and backward, inching your way to the right until you’ve covered the hole.

Oh and a word of the wise – start patching before the holes get big. The easiest way to spot them is straight off the drying rack or out of the dryer. As you fold socks, just look for any places where the fabric seems to be getting thin or spreading, especially the toes, heels, and ankles. This hole should have been darned sooner:

But it’s not a problem. Just pinch the hole closed a little like this:

Then start on the far left and sew up and down, up and down in tall stitches (like half an inch tall) until you’ve reached the other end. If you need to, reposition the angle of your sock and do it again. It’s not rocket science once you figure it out. In fact, it’s kind of like getting a king size candy bar in your trick-or-treat bucket.

So think you’re up for the repurposing challenge? Could you see yourself sewing socks? Or maybe you could share a few tips for salvaging or repurposing clothes and fabric? You know every little tip adds up these days.

I had to run over to wikipedia to check out a darning egg – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darning – thanks, Sprout. It looks like a useful tool for hand stitching. Most of our holes are in the ankle (don’t ask me how!), so it’s a relatively level spot to get at with the machine. I love learning new tricks and methods – thanks for the heads up.
Katie

My thoughts went exactly like Sprout’s. Somehow I inherited a darning egg and they really are useful when you get a hole in the toe or heel. I am guessing that you could come across one somewhere in Germany – with all those long-time needleworkers there!

we toss our socks. i said it. but now I’ve been thinking they’d be great for stuffing little kid plush toys. Stuffing is hard to find where I am and I don’t have a HUGE stuffing need, just little plush needs =)

on another note:
i know somebody who uses old cotton underwear as dust cloths because they said they were so soft and lint free. hey, if it works! =)

I can’t see myself sewing socks, I’ll be honest. HOWEVER, I did recently learn how to make baby pants out of old T-shirts. They’re stretchy and fun and it’s super-easy. I’ve also started making things out of old tea towels, too, like my picnic roll-ups. So I’m with you on the re-purposing, even if I’m not doing my socks.

you can also use a light bulb (but be careful) in place of the darning egg.
My mum has a mushroom shape one (darning mushroom??)

I think you get the holes in the ankles where your shoes rub the sock (possibly a seam causing the problem)
mine are more in the toes, must figure out how to get the toe under the sewing/embroidery machine (about time it earned it’s keep!!)

Xiaoding, the dictionary says that what I’m doing is in fact darning – just a heads up for you!

Here’s what it says:

darn 1 |dÃ¤rn|
verb [ trans. ]
mend (knitted material or a hole in this) by weaving yarn across the hole with a needle
: I don’t expect you to darn my socks.
â€¢ embroider (material) with a large running stitch.

my mother had a darning egg and we learned how to darn socks in home economics in grade school. i am 64. you do just sew in one direction over the hole, making sure you sew into good material. when you sew back in the other direction, you weave the thread in and out of the first threads.
i have a bad habit of wiggling my toes and all my socks have holes! (yes, i keep my toenails trimmed.) i have been buying new ones, often at thrift stores, but have to economize, now. i’m looking for a way to darn the holes on the sewing machine.
when you do buy socks, try not to buy cheap ones.

I’ve never thought about using the darning setting on my machine! It did come with the darning thingie (lack of a better term, I”m afraid.). Instead of using a darning egg or a hard rubber ball (like my mom used), I use an incandesecent light bulb, you know, the round kind? It has a built in “handle” that helps me hold the sock in place and steady. My pile is growing steadily so I’ll give this a go tonight.

I have seen many great ideas for substitute darning “eggs”….light bulbs, ladles, rubber balls, etc. I was looking to learn HOW-TO repair my own socks and found more than I bargained for. So thank you for the many instructions and helpful hints/advice. I will have to “revive” the hand sewing method, since my sewing machine has no “darning” attachments. Here’s a thought for a “darning egg” stand-in…. why not use a smooth/polished ROCK of the appropriate size? Just look in the nearest streambed for the rock of your choice, and pocket a FREEBIE darning “egg”.

I used to watch my paternal grandmother darn socks. She was very skilled at it. It’s a great skill to have, as it used to be required of a lady’s maid or a gentleman ‘s valet. So even the titled and wealthy wore darned socks. When I purchased my sewing machine, I was told most Europeans require a darning stitch on their machines. So I’ve started using it. The other day I used it to repair a small hole in a pair of my husband’s work jeans. I use it on socks too, unless the hole is in the toe. The sock won ‘t fit on the machine to do it. However, I enjoy the hand stitching. Great to see it is not a lost skill!